NHC

National Healthcare

Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

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company profile

SECTOR

Healthcare

industry

Medical Care Facilities

Exchange

NYSE

County of HQ

United States

Next Earnings Date

05/08/26

Business Summary

National HealthCare Corporation operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and related post-acute care services, generating revenue through patient services reimbursed by private payers and government programs. The cash engine is built on occupancy, disciplined cost control, and maintaining operating margin at 11.20% in a highly regulated environment. Scale within Medical Care Facilities allows administrative leverage and clinical standardization, which supports its 10.00% ROIC. Its moat is not technological dominance but operational expertise, compliance infrastructure, and long-standing relationships within local healthcare ecosystems that are difficult for smaller entrants to replicate.

 


Analyze NHC on TradingView

VALUATION

P/E

22.3

Market Cap ($M USD)

$2,665

Forward P/E

-

PEG

-

PRICE TO SALES

1.8

PRICE TO BOOK

2.5

EV / EBITDA

11.7

5-Year Average P/E

Free Cash Flow Yield

DCF Value

Graham Number

Price to FCF

EV to FCF

Earnings Yield

FCF Yield

DIVIDEND

Yield

1.50%

Annual Payout

$2.56

Payout Ratio

32.60%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

9

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

4.20%

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

$7.76

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

-

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

-

Return on Equity (ROE)

11.20%

FREE CASH FLOW

Operating Margin

8.50%

Debt-to-Equity

0.1

Piotroski F-Score

7

Altman Z-Score

5.7

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

10.00%

Current Ratio

1.8

Quick Ratio

Net Debt to EBITDA

Interest Coverage

Gross Profit margin

FCF PER SHARE

REVENUE PER SHARE

Analyze NHC on TradingView

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

NHC trades at 22.3x earnings with no Forward P/E provided, which immediately clouds forward visibility and makes the multiple harder to underwrite. EPS is 11.7 while EPS Next Year is estimated at $7.76, implying an earnings contraction that the current multiple does not obviously discount. That said, the balance sheet looks fortress-like with an Altman Z-Score of 5.7 and a Piotroski F-Score of 7, signaling financial stability and solid internal quality metrics. This is not a distressed name; it is a stable operator priced at a market-like multiple despite uncertain forward growth, suggesting limited mispricing unless earnings stabilize faster than implied.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a Medical Care Facilities operator within Healthcare, NHC operates in a labor-intensive, regulated environment where AI will likely enhance efficiency rather than disrupt the core model. Technology adoption could improve operating margin, currently 11.20%, through workflow automation and patient data optimization. However, the physical nature of care delivery limits full technological displacement risk, making this a gradual modernization story rather than a disruptive one.

The Bull Case

A GARP or disciplined value investor could justify ownership based on operational durability and balance sheet strength. An 11.20% operating margin combined with 10.00% ROIC indicates the company generates returns above a basic cost-of-capital hurdle while maintaining profitability in a service-heavy industry. The Piotroski F-Score of 7 reinforces that fundamentals are not deteriorating, and an Altman Z-Score of 5.7 suggests negligible bankruptcy risk. With a Current Ratio of 1.8 and modest Short % of Float at 4.20%, the setup reflects institutional-grade stability rather than speculative excess, making it attractive for investors seeking steady compounders rather than hyper-growth.

The Bear Case

The bear case centers on growth compression and capital structure complacency. EPS is 11.7 today but projected at $7.76 next year, and with no Forward P/E or PEG Forward provided, there is no clear valuation anchor for that decline. Debt / Equity of 8.50% may look manageable, but the lack of Sales Growth Next Year and Return on Equity data reduces transparency into future compounding capacity. Trading at 22.3x earnings with a TTM Yield of 0.1 and a Dividend Per Share of 1.50% alongside a listed Payout Ratio of $2.56 creates confusion around capital allocation efficiency, and without a Mean Consensus Target Price or Institutional Ownership %, external conviction signals are absent.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

5.90%

Analyst Consensus

-

Average Analyst Price Target

-

Institutional Ownership %

64.90%

1-Year Beta

0.58

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

18.90%%

Distance to 52-Week High

96.30%

Distance to 52-Week Low

191.60%

EARNINGS SURPRISE %

50-DAY SMA

200-DAY SMA

⚠️ Financial Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate. We may earn a commission from partner links.